A BRAND new streaming box filled with free channels to rival Sky and the Fire Stick has sold out hours after going on sale.
Pleio is the first standalone Freely plug-in device for TVs, which unlocks Freeview channels and more using a Wi-Fi connection instead of an aerial.
Until now, Freely – which is operated by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and 5 – has only been available built into new TVs on the market.
But Pleio was launched on Friday as the first that you can plug into any existing TV instead, much like a Fire Stick or Sky box.
However, stock sold out within hours of going on sale via Amazon.
Bosses at Netgem, which make the gadget, have revealed that interest has “far exceeded our expectations”.
FIRE SALE
Amazon’s newest 4k Fire Stick is slashed to lowest price EVER for Black Friday
PUSHING BUTTONS
Sky offers FREE second remote control & it beats your old one by miles
Speaking to Cord Busters, Netgem UK’s managing director Sylvain Thevenot said the company had seen “seen exceptional demand for PLEIO”.
“While we knew the UK was ready for a modern, aerial-free TV experience, the speed at which the public embraced this new proposition took us by surprise, and we sold out of our initial allocation on Amazon in under 24 hours,” he explained.
“We have already shipped a significant new wave of devices to replenish stock, but given the Black Friday volume, Amazon’s fulfilment centres are taking a few days to process and scan new inventory.”
Stock is expected to return tomorrow but is likely to “intermittent for the next week”, Mr Thevenot added.
Therefore anyone hoping to get hold of one is being advised to check back frequently as “fresh stock is in the building and will be hitting the shelves as soon as the logistics catch up with the demand”.
Pleio costs £99 and has many of the most popular channels from Freeview but without needing an aerial.
On top of this, the platform offers access to some extra free apps.
There is also an extra 150 channels delivered over Wi-Fi, though you only get free access to these for three months – after that you’ll have to pay £9.99 a month if you wish to continue watching them.
The subscription unlocks a bonus cloud gaming service too, with more than 200 titles to choose from.
Pleio’s pack comes with a dedicated game controller and it’s all delivered via the main puck plugged into the TV, so you don’t need any hefty game consoles.
Other manufacturers are set to announce their own Freely standalone boxes soon.
Get more quality TV for free
By Jamie Harris, Assistant Technology and Science Editor
If you’re tired of paying out on several streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ then there are a growing number of free alternatives around.
While many of these alternatives have been filled with obscure content, more big names like Sky have got on board in recent years offering some quality stuff, which is largely archive but still entertaining.
As well as UKTV, Sony and 5 are among the other players getting involved.
If you haven’t already, give Pluto TV a go, it’s available on pretty much all devices.
On there you’ll find channels from MTV, with Catfish and Geordie Shore.
Some of the classics are real gems too – I found myself watching long-forgotten episodes of Sabrina the Teenage Witch the other day.
